Ex-mayor Nora is backing Lidl plan

A FORMER Southend mayor is backing budget supermarket chain Lidl’s second attempt to build a big new store in Eastwood.

Lidl was turned down last September, but has now submitted fresh plans for a site on the corner of Progress Road and Rayleigh Road, Eastwood.

The previous proposals appeared to have the backing of many local people. Of 800 people who attended an open day organised by the company to get views on its original plans last April, 587 said they supported them.

However, the council refused the application for the supermarket, which would have created 40 jobs.

It wants to see a mini-business park on the site, and says using the site for the supermarket would deprive the Progress Road Industrial Estate of valuable industrial land. It also argued the store would lead to traffic problems.

However, former Southend mayor Nora Goodman, who is chairman of Eastwood Residents’ Association backed the proposals and wants to see the council approve the revised application.

She said: “So many residents, from as far away as The Chase in Rayleigh, were disappointed when it was refused.

“It really upset an awful lot of people. Apart from employment, it will bring a great convenience to Eastwood that people want. I haven’t spoken to anyone who is opposed. It’s a wonderful idea.”

Council planners would still like to see a landmark building on such a busy and prominent junction. However, the German chain has come back with a distinctive new design, which offers 6,800sq ftt of office space in a tower as part of the store.

This has been added in an effort to overcome objections to the loss of employment land.

The 20,000sq ft store would have 74 parking spaces and replace the Safestore warehouse, which closed two years ago.

However, the 1.3acre store site would include part of neighbouring Essex Timber’s site, leading to the closure of that business.

Robert Byford, owner of Byfords Food Shop, in Eastwood Old Road, said: “I’m very surprised Lidl resubmitted the plans, because the objections are still valid.

“The traffic chaos it will cause is immense.

“The land is for a factory, not retail, and we are short of factory space.”

Comments

DogsMessInLeigh
7:29am Tue 11 Mar 14

Hope it gets through this time, it was a farce last time an absolute joke, understandable Byfords are against, its a big road i wouldn't worry about the Traffic, if Hadleigh Lidl and chalkwell/westcliff Aldi can handle it this store will be a breeze.
Good luck to Lidl.

____________________
__
Quote:
“The land is for a factory, not retail, and we are short of factory space.”

so no one else along Progress road inc that section along eastwood road sells/retails anything then..? lots of empty unwanted factory space around.

Hope it gets through this time, it was a farce last time an absolute joke, understandable Byfords are against, its a big road i wouldn't worry about the Traffic, if Hadleigh Lidl and chalkwell/westcliff Aldi can handle it this store will be a breeze.
Good luck to Lidl.
____________________
__
Quote:
“The land is for a factory, not retail, and we are short of factory space.”
so no one else along Progress road inc that section along eastwood road sells/retails anything then..? lots of empty unwanted factory space around.DogsMessInLeigh

Hope it gets through this time, it was a farce last time an absolute joke, understandable Byfords are against, its a big road i wouldn't worry about the Traffic, if Hadleigh Lidl and chalkwell/westcliff Aldi can handle it this store will be a breeze.
Good luck to Lidl.

____________________
__
Quote:
“The land is for a factory, not retail, and we are short of factory space.”

so no one else along Progress road inc that section along eastwood road sells/retails anything then..? lots of empty unwanted factory space around.

Score: 9

the citizen
7:40am Tue 11 Mar 14

There is SO much unused space off Progress Road, and as has been mentioned there are plenty of retail outlets there -very few few pure manufacturing businesses. The main antagonists were a bunch of faceless business men opposing through a single intermediary - hardly open and transparent. Let them build! If they have added office space for others to use then that should suffice. The traffic situation didn't stop Southend BC from approving the store in Westcliff which can be an absolute nightmare to get in and out and find parking spaces. Give Eastwood what the residents want. Byfords should be safe...they are such excellent quality of meat products and service. They will not be threatened by Lidl.

There is SO much unused space off Progress Road, and as has been mentioned there are plenty of retail outlets there -very few few pure manufacturing businesses. The main antagonists were a bunch of faceless business men opposing through a single intermediary - hardly open and transparent. Let them build! If they have added office space for others to use then that should suffice. The traffic situation didn't stop Southend BC from approving the store in Westcliff which can be an absolute nightmare to get in and out and find parking spaces. Give Eastwood what the residents want. Byfords should be safe...they are such excellent quality of meat products and service. They will not be threatened by Lidl.the citizen

There is SO much unused space off Progress Road, and as has been mentioned there are plenty of retail outlets there -very few few pure manufacturing businesses. The main antagonists were a bunch of faceless business men opposing through a single intermediary - hardly open and transparent. Let them build! If they have added office space for others to use then that should suffice. The traffic situation didn't stop Southend BC from approving the store in Westcliff which can be an absolute nightmare to get in and out and find parking spaces. Give Eastwood what the residents want. Byfords should be safe...they are such excellent quality of meat products and service. They will not be threatened by Lidl.

Score: 8

wellsy29a
7:50am Tue 11 Mar 14

I'm very pleased they have come back to this. The last one was refused after a group of "imaginary" businessmen claimed they were going to turn it into a mini business park. The echo reported that and would be nice to see a link to original article to ask them what has happened to their grand plan. This are needs redeveloping and Lidl have offered a re-generation! Oh and before everyone thinks all the local shops will close. I will still buy veg from the greengrocer, meat from the butcher and everything else wherever I feel like going!

I'm very pleased they have come back to this. The last one was refused after a group of "imaginary" businessmen claimed they were going to turn it into a mini business park. The echo reported that and would be nice to see a link to original article to ask them what has happened to their grand plan. This are needs redeveloping and Lidl have offered a re-generation! Oh and before everyone thinks all the local shops will close. I will still buy veg from the greengrocer, meat from the butcher and everything else wherever I feel like going!wellsy29a

I'm very pleased they have come back to this. The last one was refused after a group of "imaginary" businessmen claimed they were going to turn it into a mini business park. The echo reported that and would be nice to see a link to original article to ask them what has happened to their grand plan. This are needs redeveloping and Lidl have offered a re-generation! Oh and before everyone thinks all the local shops will close. I will still buy veg from the greengrocer, meat from the butcher and everything else wherever I feel like going!

Score: 8

smiffy1980
8:21am Tue 11 Mar 14

good news. Lets hope this one goes through.

good news. Lets hope this one goes through.smiffy1980

good news. Lets hope this one goes through.

Score: 8

carnmountyouknowitmakessense
11:48am Tue 11 Mar 14

Funny how the name Progress, in this context, couldn't be more wrong...

Funny how the name Progress, in this context, couldn't be more wrong...carnmountyouknowitmakessense

Funny how the name Progress, in this context, couldn't be more wrong...

Score: 2

raifecl
1:07pm Tue 11 Mar 14

what is wrong with you people lidl say they are going to employ 40 people what they don't say is 16 of these are part time and 7 of these will be managers from outside the borough. so actually it is more like 18 jobs there will be many more l;ost by the smaller stores that have to close down if this goes ahead. why don't you all search the internet for lidl profits and corporation tax oh all the profits go back TO GERMANY and tax they pay into our economy is non existent. it will cause absolute mayhem to traffic in this area someone mentioned ALDI IN WESTCLIFF go and have a look on a sunday morning at the chaos their car park causes in the London rd. there are plans for 15 new small start up units which WILL go ahead when lidl looses this time this is anticipated to bring in many many more jobs and apprenticeships for our local young people. people should really check their facts before commenting.

what is wrong with you people lidl say they are going to employ 40 people what they don't say is 16 of these are part time and 7 of these will be managers from outside the borough. so actually it is more like 18 jobs there will be many more l;ost by the smaller stores that have to close down if this goes ahead. why don't you all search the internet for lidl profits and corporation tax oh all the profits go back TO GERMANY and tax they pay into our economy is non existent. it will cause absolute mayhem to traffic in this area someone mentioned ALDI IN WESTCLIFF go and have a look on a sunday morning at the chaos their car park causes in the London rd. there are plans for 15 new small start up units which WILL go ahead when lidl looses this time this is anticipated to bring in many many more jobs and apprenticeships for our local young people. people should really check their facts before commenting.raifecl

what is wrong with you people lidl say they are going to employ 40 people what they don't say is 16 of these are part time and 7 of these will be managers from outside the borough. so actually it is more like 18 jobs there will be many more l;ost by the smaller stores that have to close down if this goes ahead. why don't you all search the internet for lidl profits and corporation tax oh all the profits go back TO GERMANY and tax they pay into our economy is non existent. it will cause absolute mayhem to traffic in this area someone mentioned ALDI IN WESTCLIFF go and have a look on a sunday morning at the chaos their car park causes in the London rd. there are plans for 15 new small start up units which WILL go ahead when lidl looses this time this is anticipated to bring in many many more jobs and apprenticeships for our local young people. people should really check their facts before commenting.

Score: -5

emcee
2:30pm Tue 11 Mar 14

This really is a no brainer. There is no guarantee that small businesses will occupy any units in a "mini business park" and these units may be left empty for months, if not years. Allowing Lidl to use the site will not only guarantee jobs (it does not matter if they are full time or part time) but it will provide something that the local population actually want.
The council may deem this as "valuable" industrial land but industrial land is only any good if you can get industrial companies to use it. So, if Lidl want to invest in the site then there is no viable reason not to let it.

This really is a no brainer. There is no guarantee that small businesses will occupy any units in a "mini business park" and these units may be left empty for months, if not years. Allowing Lidl to use the site will not only guarantee jobs (it does not matter if they are full time or part time) but it will provide something that the local population actually want.
The council may deem this as "valuable" industrial land but industrial land is only any good if you can get industrial companies to use it. So, if Lidl want to invest in the site then there is no viable reason not to let it.emcee

This really is a no brainer. There is no guarantee that small businesses will occupy any units in a "mini business park" and these units may be left empty for months, if not years. Allowing Lidl to use the site will not only guarantee jobs (it does not matter if they are full time or part time) but it will provide something that the local population actually want.
The council may deem this as "valuable" industrial land but industrial land is only any good if you can get industrial companies to use it. So, if Lidl want to invest in the site then there is no viable reason not to let it.

Score: 7

jolllyboy
4:10pm Tue 11 Mar 14

Everyone except the council and their business buddies want a Lidl.
Give the area a boost with this instead of filling the town with cafes, gambling shops, and most of all Tesco!
Listen to the people for once.
My main objection is that as the town grows it will shortly be inappropriate to have industry that close to residential properties - remember the fire around there not so many years ago.

Everyone except the council and their business buddies want a Lidl.
Give the area a boost with this instead of filling the town with cafes, gambling shops, and most of all Tesco!
Listen to the people for once.
My main objection is that as the town grows it will shortly be inappropriate to have industry that close to residential properties - remember the fire around there not so many years ago.jolllyboy

Everyone except the council and their business buddies want a Lidl.
Give the area a boost with this instead of filling the town with cafes, gambling shops, and most of all Tesco!
Listen to the people for once.
My main objection is that as the town grows it will shortly be inappropriate to have industry that close to residential properties - remember the fire around there not so many years ago.

Score: 0

Living the La Vida Legra
5:00pm Tue 11 Mar 14

raifecl wrote…

what is wrong with you people lidl say they are going to employ 40 people what they don't say is 16 of these are part time and 7 of these will be managers from outside the borough. so actually it is more like 18 jobs there will be many more l;ost by the smaller stores that have to close down if this goes ahead. why don't you all search the internet for lidl profits and corporation tax oh all the profits go back TO GERMANY and tax they pay into our economy is non existent. it will cause absolute mayhem to traffic in this area someone mentioned ALDI IN WESTCLIFF go and have a look on a sunday morning at the chaos their car park causes in the London rd. there are plans for 15 new small start up units which WILL go ahead when lidl looses this time this is anticipated to bring in many many more jobs and apprenticeships for our local young people. people should really check their facts before commenting.

Sorry I can't quite make out are you for it or against it?
Were you you red in the face when you wrote this
You have issues go see a doc quick

[quote][p][bold]raifecl[/bold] wrote:
what is wrong with you people lidl say they are going to employ 40 people what they don't say is 16 of these are part time and 7 of these will be managers from outside the borough. so actually it is more like 18 jobs there will be many more l;ost by the smaller stores that have to close down if this goes ahead. why don't you all search the internet for lidl profits and corporation tax oh all the profits go back TO GERMANY and tax they pay into our economy is non existent. it will cause absolute mayhem to traffic in this area someone mentioned ALDI IN WESTCLIFF go and have a look on a sunday morning at the chaos their car park causes in the London rd. there are plans for 15 new small start up units which WILL go ahead when lidl looses this time this is anticipated to bring in many many more jobs and apprenticeships for our local young people. people should really check their facts before commenting.[/p][/quote]Sorry I can't quite make out are you for it or against it?
Were you you red in the face when you wrote this
You have issues go see a doc quickLiving the La Vida Legra

raifecl wrote…

what is wrong with you people lidl say they are going to employ 40 people what they don't say is 16 of these are part time and 7 of these will be managers from outside the borough. so actually it is more like 18 jobs there will be many more l;ost by the smaller stores that have to close down if this goes ahead. why don't you all search the internet for lidl profits and corporation tax oh all the profits go back TO GERMANY and tax they pay into our economy is non existent. it will cause absolute mayhem to traffic in this area someone mentioned ALDI IN WESTCLIFF go and have a look on a sunday morning at the chaos their car park causes in the London rd. there are plans for 15 new small start up units which WILL go ahead when lidl looses this time this is anticipated to bring in many many more jobs and apprenticeships for our local young people. people should really check their facts before commenting.

Sorry I can't quite make out are you for it or against it?
Were you you red in the face when you wrote this
You have issues go see a doc quick

Score: 1

ThisYear
4:20pm Wed 12 Mar 14

raifecl wrote…

what is wrong with you people lidl say they are going to employ 40 people what they don't say is 16 of these are part time and 7 of these will be managers from outside the borough. so actually it is more like 18 jobs there will be many more l;ost by the smaller stores that have to close down if this goes ahead. why don't you all search the internet for lidl profits and corporation tax oh all the profits go back TO GERMANY and tax they pay into our economy is non existent. it will cause absolute mayhem to traffic in this area someone mentioned ALDI IN WESTCLIFF go and have a look on a sunday morning at the chaos their car park causes in the London rd. there are plans for 15 new small start up units which WILL go ahead when lidl looses this time this is anticipated to bring in many many more jobs and apprenticeships for our local young people. people should really check their facts before commenting.

Section 106?

[quote][p][bold]raifecl[/bold] wrote:
what is wrong with you people lidl say they are going to employ 40 people what they don't say is 16 of these are part time and 7 of these will be managers from outside the borough. so actually it is more like 18 jobs there will be many more l;ost by the smaller stores that have to close down if this goes ahead. why don't you all search the internet for lidl profits and corporation tax oh all the profits go back TO GERMANY and tax they pay into our economy is non existent. it will cause absolute mayhem to traffic in this area someone mentioned ALDI IN WESTCLIFF go and have a look on a sunday morning at the chaos their car park causes in the London rd. there are plans for 15 new small start up units which WILL go ahead when lidl looses this time this is anticipated to bring in many many more jobs and apprenticeships for our local young people. people should really check their facts before commenting.[/p][/quote]Section 106?ThisYear

raifecl wrote…

what is wrong with you people lidl say they are going to employ 40 people what they don't say is 16 of these are part time and 7 of these will be managers from outside the borough. so actually it is more like 18 jobs there will be many more l;ost by the smaller stores that have to close down if this goes ahead. why don't you all search the internet for lidl profits and corporation tax oh all the profits go back TO GERMANY and tax they pay into our economy is non existent. it will cause absolute mayhem to traffic in this area someone mentioned ALDI IN WESTCLIFF go and have a look on a sunday morning at the chaos their car park causes in the London rd. there are plans for 15 new small start up units which WILL go ahead when lidl looses this time this is anticipated to bring in many many more jobs and apprenticeships for our local young people. people should really check their facts before commenting.

Section 106?

Score: 1

raifecl
8:52pm Wed 12 Mar 14

Living the La Vida Legra
please explain what you mean.
and if you even live in eastwood have a word with the 13 food stores within 1.8 miles that employ over 140 people that will be affected by this who will almost certainly have to shed staff.
or are you one of nora goodmans soldiers that desperately want a store to walk to so they can pick up their can of imported 30p baked beans.
get real support local uk independent companies that will in turn support your children in the future because this german giant certainly wont
read the following from a national newspaper
Every Lidl hurts

The super-low prices of Lidl, Europe's answer to Wal-Mart come at a cost: the rights, wages and dignity of the company's workforce. Chris Leach reports
March 2005

Lidl is what's known as a "deep discount" supermarket chain. Translated from corporate patois, that means that low-income groups (what used to be known as working-class people) can get a week's shopping there for less than what it costs for a pot of crème fraîche in Waitrose. Now, Lidl is a rapidly expanding business, not a charity. So its low prices come at a high cost for someone. And that someone is the company's workforce in all the many locations where it operates.

Still privately owned by German entrepreneur Dieter Schwarz, Lidl is one of the fastest expanding retail companies in Europe. In addition to operating 2,500 stores and having more than 151,000 employees in its domestic German market, it has outlets in 16 other European countries and is planning to expand into Asia and Canada. Providing the impetus for this rapid growth are the sunrise economies of Mittel Europa: countries like Slovakia and Poland, where the combined privations of Stalinism and shock-treatment neo-liberalism mean that independent trade union structures are young and weak.

According to Uni Commerce, the international umbrella organisation of retail unions, Lidl is trying to copy US retailer Wal-Mart's model of "pressing down wages and benefits and squeezing as much as is possible from its personnel". Uni Commerce also castigates the company's culture of secrecy, suspicion and anti-union dirty tricks. In one instance the company reacted to a successful union recruitment drive at its distribution warehouses by reconfiguring its entire corporate structure overnight.

In the new EU member states the most famous, or infamous, allegation of Lidl abusing its workforce came to light in August last year. It was claimed that menstruating workers in Poland and the Czech Republic had to wear white headbands if they wanted to be allowed to use the toilet during working time. Of course, this very serious charge was sternly denied by Lidl's senior management. But the story had enough substance to feature in Lebensmittelzeitung, Germany's leading commerce magazine.

Bullying and intimidation are not restricted to Lidl's operations in "new" Europe. When the German retail union Ver.di opened a weblog enabling workers to report on the company's bad practices it was contacted by more than 3,500 present and former Lidl employees. The reports, which form the basis of a "black book" published by the union about the firm's tawdry employment practices, chronicle how "the company is obsessed with control to the extent that it becomes a serious violation of the integrity of its workers. Everyone is treated with mistrust, as a potential thief".

A culture of constant surveillance extends to every nook and cranny of Lidl's retail environment, with workers being subjected to frequent checks for contraband. Pockets are searched, as well as workers' cars. Even mandatory periods away from the shop floor take on a Big Brother aspect. One Finnish worker said: "Everything that is consumed at the workplace during the breaks, be it a yoghurt or a soft drink, must not only have a cash ticket taped to it; the ticket must also be signed by the supervisor."

So if you're ever in a once noble town that's fallen on hard times in this austere post-Thatcherite era you may happen upon a Lidl. Please try not to be beguiled by any of the company's weekly special deals (when I looked, it was offering a pink velour two-piece of the type favoured by Little Britain's Vicky Pollard at an amazing £5.99). Those prices may not bust your wallet, but you may inadvertently help to bust the union.

Now, I must remember to get some crème fraîche. Anybody in Islington fancy an early night?

Living the La Vida Legra
please explain what you mean.
and if you even live in eastwood have a word with the 13 food stores within 1.8 miles that employ over 140 people that will be affected by this who will almost certainly have to shed staff.
or are you one of nora goodmans soldiers that desperately want a store to walk to so they can pick up their can of imported 30p baked beans.
get real support local uk independent companies that will in turn support your children in the future because this german giant certainly wont
read the following from a national newspaper
Every Lidl hurts
The super-low prices of Lidl, Europe's answer to Wal-Mart come at a cost: the rights, wages and dignity of the company's workforce. Chris Leach reports
March 2005
Lidl is what's known as a "deep discount" supermarket chain. Translated from corporate patois, that means that low-income groups (what used to be known as working-class people) can get a week's shopping there for less than what it costs for a pot of crème fraîche in Waitrose. Now, Lidl is a rapidly expanding business, not a charity. So its low prices come at a high cost for someone. And that someone is the company's workforce in all the many locations where it operates.
Still privately owned by German entrepreneur Dieter Schwarz, Lidl is one of the fastest expanding retail companies in Europe. In addition to operating 2,500 stores and having more than 151,000 employees in its domestic German market, it has outlets in 16 other European countries and is planning to expand into Asia and Canada. Providing the impetus for this rapid growth are the sunrise economies of Mittel Europa: countries like Slovakia and Poland, where the combined privations of Stalinism and shock-treatment neo-liberalism mean that independent trade union structures are young and weak.
According to Uni Commerce, the international umbrella organisation of retail unions, Lidl is trying to copy US retailer Wal-Mart's model of "pressing down wages and benefits and squeezing as much as is possible from its personnel". Uni Commerce also castigates the company's culture of secrecy, suspicion and anti-union dirty tricks. In one instance the company reacted to a successful union recruitment drive at its distribution warehouses by reconfiguring its entire corporate structure overnight.
In the new EU member states the most famous, or infamous, allegation of Lidl abusing its workforce came to light in August last year. It was claimed that menstruating workers in Poland and the Czech Republic had to wear white headbands if they wanted to be allowed to use the toilet during working time. Of course, this very serious charge was sternly denied by Lidl's senior management. But the story had enough substance to feature in Lebensmittelzeitung, Germany's leading commerce magazine.
Bullying and intimidation are not restricted to Lidl's operations in "new" Europe. When the German retail union Ver.di opened a weblog enabling workers to report on the company's bad practices it was contacted by more than 3,500 present and former Lidl employees. The reports, which form the basis of a "black book" published by the union about the firm's tawdry employment practices, chronicle how "the company is obsessed with control to the extent that it becomes a serious violation of the integrity of its workers. Everyone is treated with mistrust, as a potential thief".
A culture of constant surveillance extends to every nook and cranny of Lidl's retail environment, with workers being subjected to frequent checks for contraband. Pockets are searched, as well as workers' cars. Even mandatory periods away from the shop floor take on a Big Brother aspect. One Finnish worker said: "Everything that is consumed at the workplace during the breaks, be it a yoghurt or a soft drink, must not only have a cash ticket taped to it; the ticket must also be signed by the supervisor."
So if you're ever in a once noble town that's fallen on hard times in this austere post-Thatcherite era you may happen upon a Lidl. Please try not to be beguiled by any of the company's weekly special deals (when I looked, it was offering a pink velour two-piece of the type favoured by Little Britain's Vicky Pollard at an amazing £5.99). Those prices may not bust your wallet, but you may inadvertently help to bust the union.
Now, I must remember to get some crème fraîche. Anybody in Islington fancy an early night?raifecl

Living the La Vida Legra
please explain what you mean.
and if you even live in eastwood have a word with the 13 food stores within 1.8 miles that employ over 140 people that will be affected by this who will almost certainly have to shed staff.
or are you one of nora goodmans soldiers that desperately want a store to walk to so they can pick up their can of imported 30p baked beans.
get real support local uk independent companies that will in turn support your children in the future because this german giant certainly wont
read the following from a national newspaper
Every Lidl hurts

The super-low prices of Lidl, Europe's answer to Wal-Mart come at a cost: the rights, wages and dignity of the company's workforce. Chris Leach reports
March 2005

Lidl is what's known as a "deep discount" supermarket chain. Translated from corporate patois, that means that low-income groups (what used to be known as working-class people) can get a week's shopping there for less than what it costs for a pot of crème fraîche in Waitrose. Now, Lidl is a rapidly expanding business, not a charity. So its low prices come at a high cost for someone. And that someone is the company's workforce in all the many locations where it operates.

Still privately owned by German entrepreneur Dieter Schwarz, Lidl is one of the fastest expanding retail companies in Europe. In addition to operating 2,500 stores and having more than 151,000 employees in its domestic German market, it has outlets in 16 other European countries and is planning to expand into Asia and Canada. Providing the impetus for this rapid growth are the sunrise economies of Mittel Europa: countries like Slovakia and Poland, where the combined privations of Stalinism and shock-treatment neo-liberalism mean that independent trade union structures are young and weak.

According to Uni Commerce, the international umbrella organisation of retail unions, Lidl is trying to copy US retailer Wal-Mart's model of "pressing down wages and benefits and squeezing as much as is possible from its personnel". Uni Commerce also castigates the company's culture of secrecy, suspicion and anti-union dirty tricks. In one instance the company reacted to a successful union recruitment drive at its distribution warehouses by reconfiguring its entire corporate structure overnight.

In the new EU member states the most famous, or infamous, allegation of Lidl abusing its workforce came to light in August last year. It was claimed that menstruating workers in Poland and the Czech Republic had to wear white headbands if they wanted to be allowed to use the toilet during working time. Of course, this very serious charge was sternly denied by Lidl's senior management. But the story had enough substance to feature in Lebensmittelzeitung, Germany's leading commerce magazine.

Bullying and intimidation are not restricted to Lidl's operations in "new" Europe. When the German retail union Ver.di opened a weblog enabling workers to report on the company's bad practices it was contacted by more than 3,500 present and former Lidl employees. The reports, which form the basis of a "black book" published by the union about the firm's tawdry employment practices, chronicle how "the company is obsessed with control to the extent that it becomes a serious violation of the integrity of its workers. Everyone is treated with mistrust, as a potential thief".

A culture of constant surveillance extends to every nook and cranny of Lidl's retail environment, with workers being subjected to frequent checks for contraband. Pockets are searched, as well as workers' cars. Even mandatory periods away from the shop floor take on a Big Brother aspect. One Finnish worker said: "Everything that is consumed at the workplace during the breaks, be it a yoghurt or a soft drink, must not only have a cash ticket taped to it; the ticket must also be signed by the supervisor."

So if you're ever in a once noble town that's fallen on hard times in this austere post-Thatcherite era you may happen upon a Lidl. Please try not to be beguiled by any of the company's weekly special deals (when I looked, it was offering a pink velour two-piece of the type favoured by Little Britain's Vicky Pollard at an amazing £5.99). Those prices may not bust your wallet, but you may inadvertently help to bust the union.

Now, I must remember to get some crème fraîche. Anybody in Islington fancy an early night?

Score: 1

localresidentr
9:11pm Wed 12 Mar 14

raifecl wrote…

what is wrong with you people lidl say they are going to employ 40 people what they don't say is 16 of these are part time and 7 of these will be managers from outside the borough. so actually it is more like 18 jobs there will be many more l;ost by the smaller stores that have to close down if this goes ahead. why don't you all search the internet for lidl profits and corporation tax oh all the profits go back TO GERMANY and tax they pay into our economy is non existent. it will cause absolute mayhem to traffic in this area someone mentioned ALDI IN WESTCLIFF go and have a look on a sunday morning at the chaos their car park causes in the London rd. there are plans for 15 new small start up units which WILL go ahead when lidl looses this time this is anticipated to bring in many many more jobs and apprenticeships for our local young people. people should really check their facts before commenting.

How many of you have spent up to an hour trying to get out of Tesco on to the A127 at the weekend or getting in or out of the London Road because of Aldi in Chalkwell? The extra traffic caused by a supermarket is horrific and I for one do NOT want to see Lidl on this site.

Rayleigh Road/Progress Road at rush hour times is a nightmare already - what will this extra traffic cause?

How many shops selling groceries in this area are required? At the moment you have ZB News, the Co-op and Tesco Extra within 800 yards of the proposed site, across the traffic lights towards you have Mace, Nica and Londis again within 800 yards. Within less than 2 miles you have a larger Morrison's and 2 Co-op's.

What will happen to these stores? How much food can be sold in one area?

For this new store to be built Essex Timber and Plywood will be knocked down, there has been a timer yard on this site since 1984 run by the current proprietor Mr Clarke for 23 years of these. This is an extremely successful British company and for a German supermarket that is very lax in paying cooperation tax in the UK to be allowed to use this site will be an outrage.

Will the new jobs this is supposed to create be outweighed by the jobs that will be lost?

Can we not keep some of our trade British which pay tax into this country, which small local business's do.

[quote][p][bold]raifecl[/bold] wrote:
what is wrong with you people lidl say they are going to employ 40 people what they don't say is 16 of these are part time and 7 of these will be managers from outside the borough. so actually it is more like 18 jobs there will be many more l;ost by the smaller stores that have to close down if this goes ahead. why don't you all search the internet for lidl profits and corporation tax oh all the profits go back TO GERMANY and tax they pay into our economy is non existent. it will cause absolute mayhem to traffic in this area someone mentioned ALDI IN WESTCLIFF go and have a look on a sunday morning at the chaos their car park causes in the London rd. there are plans for 15 new small start up units which WILL go ahead when lidl looses this time this is anticipated to bring in many many more jobs and apprenticeships for our local young people. people should really check their facts before commenting.[/p][/quote]How many of you have spent up to an hour trying to get out of Tesco on to the A127 at the weekend or getting in or out of the London Road because of Aldi in Chalkwell? The extra traffic caused by a supermarket is horrific and I for one do NOT want to see Lidl on this site.
Rayleigh Road/Progress Road at rush hour times is a nightmare already - what will this extra traffic cause?
How many shops selling groceries in this area are required? At the moment you have ZB News, the Co-op and Tesco Extra within 800 yards of the proposed site, across the traffic lights towards you have Mace, Nica and Londis again within 800 yards. Within less than 2 miles you have a larger Morrison's and 2 Co-op's.
What will happen to these stores? How much food can be sold in one area?
For this new store to be built Essex Timber and Plywood will be knocked down, there has been a timer yard on this site since 1984 run by the current proprietor Mr Clarke for 23 years of these. This is an extremely successful British company and for a German supermarket that is very lax in paying cooperation tax in the UK to be allowed to use this site will be an outrage.
Will the new jobs this is supposed to create be outweighed by the jobs that will be lost?
Can we not keep some of our trade British which pay tax into this country, which small local business's do.localresidentr

raifecl wrote…

what is wrong with you people lidl say they are going to employ 40 people what they don't say is 16 of these are part time and 7 of these will be managers from outside the borough. so actually it is more like 18 jobs there will be many more l;ost by the smaller stores that have to close down if this goes ahead. why don't you all search the internet for lidl profits and corporation tax oh all the profits go back TO GERMANY and tax they pay into our economy is non existent. it will cause absolute mayhem to traffic in this area someone mentioned ALDI IN WESTCLIFF go and have a look on a sunday morning at the chaos their car park causes in the London rd. there are plans for 15 new small start up units which WILL go ahead when lidl looses this time this is anticipated to bring in many many more jobs and apprenticeships for our local young people. people should really check their facts before commenting.

How many of you have spent up to an hour trying to get out of Tesco on to the A127 at the weekend or getting in or out of the London Road because of Aldi in Chalkwell? The extra traffic caused by a supermarket is horrific and I for one do NOT want to see Lidl on this site.

Rayleigh Road/Progress Road at rush hour times is a nightmare already - what will this extra traffic cause?

How many shops selling groceries in this area are required? At the moment you have ZB News, the Co-op and Tesco Extra within 800 yards of the proposed site, across the traffic lights towards you have Mace, Nica and Londis again within 800 yards. Within less than 2 miles you have a larger Morrison's and 2 Co-op's.

What will happen to these stores? How much food can be sold in one area?

For this new store to be built Essex Timber and Plywood will be knocked down, there has been a timer yard on this site since 1984 run by the current proprietor Mr Clarke for 23 years of these. This is an extremely successful British company and for a German supermarket that is very lax in paying cooperation tax in the UK to be allowed to use this site will be an outrage.

Will the new jobs this is supposed to create be outweighed by the jobs that will be lost?

Can we not keep some of our trade British which pay tax into this country, which small local business's do.

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